Bio-nematicidal effect of Azadirachta indica, against Meloidogyne incognita in tomato

Abstract

A pot experiment under screen house conditions was carried out to manage the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in tomato by using different neem leaves @ 5, 10, 20 and 30 g/kg soil along with chemical as well as untreated checks. Soil was autoclaved and inoculated with root-knot nematode (1000 J2/kg soil). Neem leaves were incorporated to the soil in pot as treatment wise and a waiting period of ten days was given for decomposition of neem leaves before transplanting of tomato seedling. The results revealed that all plant growth parameters of tomato improved while the nematode reproduction factors were suppressed significantly in case of neem leaves and chemical checks as compare to untreated inoculated check. Among the doses neem leaves 30 g/ kg soil were found to be effective in suppressing galling (38) and final population in soil (170) followed by 20 g/ kg soil in improving plant growth of tomato and reducing reproduction of root knot nematode.